WICKET! Southee c Bell b Collingwood 6 (193) That's it. The ball after heaving Collingwood over midwicket for six, Southee skies one to Bell at long-off and England have won by 114 runs. It's been a massacre, not quite from start to finish, but certainly from about halfway through the England innings. Collingwood finishes with four for 15, but the real damage was done earlier by Kevin Pietersen (110 not out off 112 balls) and Owais Shah (49 off 25). Thanks for the emails and see you on Wednesday for the second game iof this five-match series at Edgbaston.

WICKET! Mills c Wright b Collingwood 7 (187-9) Great catch from Wright, who gets under a snow-tipped skyer and catches Mills over his shoulder in the short midwicket region. A third wicket for Collingwood and the end is even more nigh. "I didn't mean that 50-over cricket is a bad thing mind you," says Robin Hazlehurst. "It can't compete with Twenty20 as a spectacle or Tests as an, er, test, but it teaches the skills of discipline in batting and bowling and the importance of building an innings while scoring quickly and not getting out. Perhaps it doesn't work in the full glare of international matches, but is the perfect format for training young cricketers. The worry is that youngsters growing up on Twenty20 will be unable to play tests, so perhaps 50-50 is the best format at that level, but keep it as a training level format. And allow obviously beaten teams to surrender after 30 overs."

42nd over: New Zealand 187-8 (Mills 7, Southee 0) need 308 Back comes Broad, who has a great chance to make already outstanding figures look world-class. Mills isn't listening, though, and lifts his third ball back down the ground for a one-bounce four.

41st over: New Zealand 182-8 (Mills 2, Southee 0) need 308 Poor old New Zealand. They've just been outclassed today. They ran into Pietersen on top form, Shah with a point to prove and an inspired performance with the ball from Broad. Once McCullum fell for 36, there was, realistically, no way back, especially when Taylor failed to come off.

WICKET! Vettori c Anderson b Collingwood 8 (180-8) And so it continues. Vettori tries to slog-sweep Collingwood towards Darlington, but gets a huge top edge and Anderson is waiting at deepish midwicket. "Mid-on's action reminds one of the old soundbite 'And now the bowler's tempting him to have a slash outside off-stump'," guffaws John Starbuck.

40th over: New Zealand 179-6 (Hopkins 25, Vettori 8) need 308 I know, I know: this is the second 40th over. I've no idea how that happened, but it has. Cricket's a funny game. Anyway, Vettori slog-sweeps Swann for four, then sweeps for a single. Hopkins is lucky to get a leading edge through the vacant slip area for two, then works him more convincingly towards deep midwicket for a single. Eight off the over, which Swann finishes with figures of 10-1-45-2.

40th over: New Zealand 171-6 (Hopkins 22, Vettori 3) need 308 Collingwood brings himself on for Sidebottom, whose two-over spell cost an increasingly fulminating 20 runs. New Zealand need 12 an over, so we can safely say the game has gone, but this is a five-game series and there is pride and psychology to play for. To search for the good old positives, at least Hopkins has shown a bit of fight. Six singles off the over.

39th over: New Zealand 165-6 (Hopkins 19, Vettori 0) need 308 A wicket maiden for Swann - and a fortunate one. "Perhaps a trick has been missed to relieve the unexpected boredom ofEngland winning so handsomely," says Ian Copestake. "Instead of the bowler or batsman telling the umpire which hand they use their fork with, the captainshould suggest the best of three and cram in a couple more mini Ten10matches before the crowd decide mass suicide is the best way to endthis Sunday on a memorable note."

WICKET! Flynn c Ambrose b Swann 34 (165-6) That's a horrible way to go: Flynn tries to sweep Swann and is given out caught behind down the leg-side when the ball appeared to hit the thigh pad rather than the glove. That's unlucky: he was playing very well in a lost cause.

38th over: New Zealand 165-5 (Flynn 34, Hopkins 19) need 308 Sidebottom has not had everything his own way since returning to the attack and now Hopkins short-arms him to deep midwicket for four. These two have quietly added 40-odd without breaking sweat. It's just a shame their top-order team-mates let them down: 12 off the over. You're all piling in now. Here's Robin Hazlehurst. "Presumably this is the problem with 50-over cricket. Yes the middle overs can be boring, but so can Test cricket. That's not a bad thing when balanced against the skill of innings building and the tactical pressures which are in both forms. But rarely in Tests and almost never in Twenty20 does a game continue on so long when the result is obvious - this game was done 10 overs into the NZ innings, so 40% of the game is meaningless."

37th over: New Zealand 153-5 (Flynn 33, Hopkins 8) need 308 Flynn struggles to get Swann away and has to settle for a push to deep midwicket for a single. But he's played well: surely he's a better bet at No3 than James Marshall. "Isn't this a great advert for Twenty20?" asks Ian Truman. "Despite the excitement of England's innings, as with the vast majority of 50-over games it's just petered out - still it's sending me to sleep meaning I shouldn't find it so hard to stay up later for the US Open... any opinions on the golf Lawrence?" Yeah, bloke called Woods...

36th over: New Zealand 150-5 (Flynn 32, Hopkins 6) need 308 Sidebottom returns after the drinks break and England should have had a wicket first ball, only for Collingwood to fail to gather cleanly at backward point with both batsmen at virtually the same end. Careless - and the batsmen steal a single to further darken Sidebottom's mood. He really has become the archetypal angry fast bowler - and there's a cut for four by Flynn to make matters even grumpier. A cut for two makes it eight off the over. Well played Flynn. "I hope I've not written a cheque the anecdote can't cash," says Matt Grime. "The incidents that don't involve lengthy tirades of unprintable material revolve around what happens when you work your way through a 4 pack of special brew before 4pm. This bloke obviously agreed with the TMS commentators: leaving the field for a 'comfort break' is a blot on the modern game. He didn't even leave his fielding position (mid-on, if you ask)." Charming.

35th over: New Zealand 142-5 (Flynn 25, Hopkins 5) need 308 For those of you who like a flutter, can I point you towards the unsung Northamptonshire Steelbacks, who have today won their third group game out of three in the Twenty20 Cup and have a squadron of South Africans apparently designed for the game. They have to be a decent each-way bet for the semi-finals, and not just because I've always had a soft spot for them.

34th over: New Zealand 142-5 (Flynn 25, Hopkins 5) need 308 Swann is still finding turn into the right-hander from outside off-stump, while the leftie Flynn is reduced to a few chancy slog-sweeps. One of them even brings him a single. Two off a very good over.

33rd over: New Zealand 140-5 (Flynn 24, Hopkins 4) need 308 Flynn looks busy, but ones and twos aren't enough. Credit to Wright, mind you: he's varied his pace and his length very well. Four scampered runs off the over. "Boring question (less boring, however, than the work I'm supposed to be doing today), but just how well are England playing at the moment?" yawns Tom Hopkins. "We seem to be performing better in one-dayers than for some considerable time, but is that down to New Zealand being a broken team?" Erm, partly. There's no Bond, Fleming or Oram, but Pietersen and Shah both played out of their skins today and there is a suspicion that the players are finally settling into their 50-over roles.

32nd over: New Zealand 136-5 (Flynn 21, Hopkins 3) need 308 A quiet over off Swann: five singles. Is it so wrong to be losing the will to live?

31st over: New Zealand 131-5 (Flynn 19, Hopkins 1) need 308 Anderson can't quite get to Flynn's pick-up towards deep square-leg off Wright: two runs. But this all feels a little irrelevant: England have won this. "A new challenge for Chris McBride," says John Starbuck. "Can he get any cricket-related topic into The Guardian's weekly Backbencher column? I know this is getting a bit silly now, but it looks as if England are cruising to their customary victory over the Kiwis so we have to entertain ourselves. Think of this as the OBO equivalent of a Mexican wave." Every OBO is a Mexican wave, John.

30th over: New Zealand 127-5 (Flynn 16, Hopkins 0) need 308 Flynn decides he's not going to go quietly, edging Swann fine for four, then slog-sweeping the next ball for another boundary. He's a good little player, as he showed when helping Oram save the Lord's Test. But there's far too much for him to do now. Swann makes a couple turn and bounce against Hopkins and New Zealand end up with 11 off an over that began with the wicket of Styris.

WICKET! Styris c Anderson b Swann 18 (116-5) At last Styris tries to hit out, but his lusty leg-side swing goes straight to Anderson at deep midwicket. The end is nigh - as if it wasn't before.

29th over: New Zealand 116-4 (Styris 18, Flynn 7) need 308 Wright is bustling through some tidy overs here, which wasn't part of the New Zealand gameplan. They can't do better than a few singles right now and that suits England just fine. I realise New Zealand are missing Jacob Oram, but you wouldn't guess they were ranked third in the world in this form of the game on today's evidence.

28th over: New Zealand 112-4 (Styris 16, Flynn 6) need 308 Styris survives a stumping referral after just getting his back foot into the crease following a missed slog-sweep off Swann. New Zealand have managed just eight fours and a six so far today. Poor. "I shouldn't complain too much about unenjoyable on-field experiences given what happened to our second XI two weeks ago," winces Matt Grime. "How many match reports end with "and the police and ambulance arrived after one of the opposition violently assaulted one of their supporters"? Since you're a nice family publication going out before the watershed I can't tell you the other stuff that happened in that game." Oh go on. I'll make an exception...

27th over: New Zealand 108-4 (Styris 15, Flynn 4) need 308 Wright is cramping Styris for space with balls that are coming back into him and New Zealand appear to have few answers right now. The slow strangulation continues. "I don't really see the problem with a batsman changing his grip," says StJohn Bird. "If a 90mph+ express bowler can disguise his action and send down a 50mph off break, the batsman is just supposed to deal with it. Anyone who has enough time to change hands and still hit a decent cricket shot has earned his runs in my book. Mind you, when's the last time an OBO contained the phrase 'a rare loose one from Anderson'?!" It's a fair question. I'll ask the small man who lives in the stationery cupboard.

26th over: New Zealand 106-4 (Styris 14, Flynn 3) need 308 This game is going to die a long and painful death unless Styris or Flynn produces something special. Flynn rocks back to hammer Swann for two to deep extra-cover, but then misses a cut at a ball that was too close to him for the shot. Four off the over. "I'm prepared to challenge John Starbuck for most posts in the day," says Chris McBride, "but to bring things full circle I'm sure I saw David Davis try the old reverse slog sweep once in a quick game on Parliament Square off the bowling of Nicholas Soames." He's making it up as he goes along!

25th over: New Zealand 102-4 (Styris 13, Flynn 0) need 308 That was a weirdly nothing innings from Taylor: 34 balls and just one boundary, when New Zealand needed quick runs. Instead, he ended up gifting Wright his first ODI wicket. Surely this game is beyond New Zealand now.

WICKET! Taylor c Sidebottom b Wright 20 (101-4) Taylor is undone by Wright's slower one and ends up poking a simple catch all the way to Sidebottom at long-on. So much for modern bats, eh?

24th over: New Zealand 99-3 (Taylor 18, Styris 12) need 308 Great fielding from Anderson on the deep midwicket boundary limits Taylor's sweep off Swann to two when it appeared to have four scrawled all over it. And I've just undone all the good work by gobbling a Snickers bar. "At the risk of being printed more often in an OBO than is good for me," chuckles John Starbuck, "the point is that while the bowler has to tell the umpire which way he's bowling, the umpire then informs the batsman. KP's switch allows no time for the bowler to be informed. Mind you, I think the KP option is good for the game - the more unpredictable it is, the better - and we can all have a good laugh at people getting it horribly wrong." Yes, but who apart from KP would have the brass neck to try it?

23rd over: New Zealand 93-3 (Taylor 13, Styris 11) need 308 Wright replaces Broad, but I would have been tempted to bowl Broad right through and just keep the pressure on these two - not to mention take a wicket. Often a guy who begins with seven tight ones gets tap at the end, so why not keep him on while he's in the groove? Anyway, just a very minor hobby horse of mine. Taylor takes a leg-bye and Styris runs one down to third man, but that was a pretty good start from Wright, who has had the tendency in the past to go for a few.

22nd over: New Zealand 91-3 (Taylor 13, Styris 10) need 308 Graeme Swann gets a bowl in place of Anderson (8-0-45-0) and his second ball is turned neatly into the midwicket gap for two by Taylor, who then nicks a quick single to point. Swann then beats Taylor with what looked suspiciously like an arm-ball - a good first over for the offie. "We had a complete jobsworth of an umpire the other week in a (self- umpired) league game," says Matt Grime. "He gave a no-ball when the new bowler didn't inform him of his action. I've never had an umpire fail to enquire before, and the bowler doesn't have to say anyway - it's up to the umpire to ascertain the action, and only a no ball if the bowler changes it without notice. And their No3 didn't walk after a huge nick. They sent one our boys to the hospital after hitting him in the head. Finally said jobsworth verbally abused one of our players for not walking quickly enough after edging behind. That's the thing about division 4: it's all a bit of fun...." It sounds it.

21st over: New Zealand 86-3 (Taylor 9, Styris 9) need 308 So, the field spreads and there ought to be more singles on offer. But New Zealand currently need 7.5 an over, and Broad doesn't look likely to concede as many as that. Three runs off that over make his figures 7-2-11-2. "Just typical eh?" weeps Simon Land. "Just as we (England) get good at thisgame, it will disappear for Twenty20."

20th over: New Zealand 83-3 (Taylor 7, Styris 8) need 308 A rare loose one from Anderson, who is pummelled over the covers for four by Styris, then tucked to backward square for a single. New Zealand need these two to score the bulk of the runs: next in is the novice Flynn and the gritty but limited Hopkins. That, thought, was a better over for New Zealand: 10 off it. "A dramatic and surprising gesture which grabs a lot of attention, but which doesn't achieve much that couldn't have been achieved by carrying on as normal?" says Robin Hazlehurst. "John Starbuck is spot on with the David Davis/left-hand slog-sweep analogy."

19th over: New Zealand 73-3 (Taylor 6, Styris 1) need 308 Collingwood brings in a slip for Scott Styris, the new batsman, who is beaten second ball by the mesmeric Broad. A quick single prevents a wicket maiden, but that's another superb over nonetheless. "I sort of suspected what John Starbuck says about bowlers switching arm," says Robin Hazlehurst, "but couldn't the bowler just advise the umpire he will be bowling "right arm over or left arm round"? Or do the laws say you can only nominate one action, I'm not sure. Agree that "We Joined the Navy" is good - a sort of more grown-up (and more naval) Jennings and Darbyshire if I remember." You can change action as long as you tell the umpire in advance.

WICKET! How c Wright b Broad 20 (72-3) How is put out of his misery, picking out Wright in the covers as he tries in vain to hit Broad over the top. England are in total control.

18th over: New Zealand 72-2 (How 20, Taylor 6) need 308 All quiet on the north-eastern front, although How comes dangerously close to finding the boundary with a thick outside edge off Anderson that is intercepted at fine third man by Sidebottom: one run. But what's this! Taylor has hit a four! It was an unconvincing chip down the ground, but no matter. The shackles are off. "Chris McBride (see Marshall's wicket) should consider David Davis's resignation to re-fight his seat," says John Starbuck. "Doing this, on a point of principle (!) will surely be outlawed soon by the Westminster Massive."

17th over: New Zealand 67-2 (How 19, Taylor 2) need 308 New Zealand have stagnated, even as Taylor drops the immaculate Broad into the off-side for a quick single. How at least attempts something different, moving across his stumps to pull Broad to fine leg, but Anderson gathers the ball comfortably on the bounce and it's just one run. Two off the over: Broad has figures of one for seven off five overs. Here's John Wilson. "Bowlers are required to say if they are right or left-handed, under or over, and to inform the ump. if they change any or all of it. I don't think batsmen do. Clarification, please?" Correct. Except no one's allowed to bowl underarm any more.

16th over: New Zealand 65-2 (How 18, Taylor 1) need 308 And so Collingwood takes the third powerplay, which makes perfect sense: New Zealand are torn between the conflicting demands of consolidation and a climbing run-rate, so why not keep up the pressure? How needs to break free at some point, and he's almost run out by Wright, who intercepts the ball at short mid-on, then hurls the ball nowhere near the stumps with How stranded: they steal an overthrow and Anderson is briefly furious - although I remember him doing something similar during the Lord's Test. Still the runs refuse to flow.

15th over: New Zealand 63-2 (How 16, Taylor 1) need 308 Broad begins with a delivery measured at 87mph. Duncan Fletcher believes he needs to touch 90mph if England's Test attack isn't going to develop a sameness in the absence of Andrew Flintoff, so it's good to see him staying on the right side of 85. Taylor is forced to take a risky single off the third ball of Broad's over, but Pietersen's shy from wide mid-off misses. Broad then sends one down at - according to the speed gun - 90.2mph, but How is good enough to push a quick single back past him. Another fine over, though: just two off it.

14th over: New Zealand 61-2 (How 15, Taylor 0) need 308 I suppose Marshall's dismissal at least brings Ross Taylor to the crease, and New Zealand need him to have as much time at the crease as possible if they are going to win this. But the last six overs have brought nine runs and two wickets: England have taken complete control.

WICKET! Marshall run out (Collingwood) 4 (61-2) That's what pressure does for you. The strokeless wonder Marshall drops Anderson into the off-side and hesitates over a single. Collingwood is quick to the ball in the gully region and throws down the non-striker's stumps with Marshall's lunge falling inches short. Great fielding, woeful innings: four off 25 balls. "I admire the political analogy but it's been a long time since Gordon Brown hit a great clunking fist though the covers," says Chris McBride. "I think his most likely move at the moment is a badly judged single against a spritely Jonty Rhodes. Can't think of a political analogy for KP's soon-to-be-illegal left-handed sweep slog but I'm sure someone else can?"

13th over: New Zealand 58-1 (How 12, Marshall 4) need 308 England have a spring in their step as Broad keeps Marshall tied down. A gruesome stat for New Zealanders: Marshall averages 11 in his nine ODIs. Which means he's more than halfway to matching his career mean. Another maiden for Broad, who now has figures of 3-2-3-1.

12th over: New Zealand 58-1 (How 12, Marshall 4) need 308 Bored of the OBO? Then why not read David Hopps's blog about Collingwood's innings? I haven't read it yet, but I can safely say it's almost certainly very good indeed. Meanwhile, the sequence of dot balls ends as Marshall helps Sidebottom to fine leg for two leg-byes, but this is great pressure from England, and How - a run an over - will be feeling it leaning on his bat at the non-striker's end.

11th over: New Zealand 55-1 (How 12, Marshall 3) need 308 Collingwood takes the second powerplay straightaway, and well he might with McCullum out of the way. How and Marshall will scare no one, although there's always that How knock in Napier to spoil the stereotype. Broad has begun really well here: accurate, just short of a length, no width, and it forces How to try something different. But his shimmy ends up with a blow to the ribcage, which has "ouch" plastered all over it in black and blue. Broad's response? A beauty that takes off from a length and beats How's backward defensive. Successive maidens.

10th over: New Zealand 55-1 (How 12, Marshall 3) need 308 There's a different feel to the game now as Marshall prods and misses at Sidebottom - almost like a Test match. New Zealand can't afford too much consolidation, or at least they should be looking to consolidate with strike-rotation rather than dot-ball defence. Marshall has a twitch at the crease that recalls Gordon Brown's strange mouth movement. Watch closely if you can. But there's no great clunking fist through the covers: that was a maiden.

9th over: New Zealand 55-1 (How 12, Marshall 3) need 308 That changes everything. New Zealand's heads will have slumped, England's bowlers will feel relieved, and one of the two men in the Kiwi line-up capable of scoring a very quick hundred is back in the pavilion for a 27-ball 36 that promised more. The pressure is now on James Marshall, who was dropped for the third Test at Trent Bridge, but whips his first ball to backward square for two. Great first over from Broad: three runs and a massive wicket.

WICKET! McCullum c Bell b Broad 36 (52-1) Broad replaces Anderson and the move pays dividends immediately as McCullum slaps a short one at head height straight to Bell at extra-cover. Could that be the wicket that wins England the game? "My soul ached watching Collingwood struggle with the leadership issues involved in choosing between being a cricketer and an "athlete" on the Sky lunch-break interview," says Mark Steward. "Rock and a hard place doesn't describe it, but at least have the grace to ignore the issue like a proper Englishman. Then again, I won't find £500,000 stuffed in a baseball mitt under my pillow tomorrow morning."

8th over: New Zealand 52-0 (How 12, McCullum 36) need 308 For those of you who were wondering, Michael Vaughan has today scored 31 in 22 for Yorkshire in the Twenty20 Cup against Derbyshire. Antigua beckons! Back in the real world, Sidebottom keeps How quiet for four balls, then serves up a half-volley which How drives down the ground for his first boundary. Shot!

7th over: New Zealand 48-0 (How 8, McCullum 36) need 308 Four more to the dangerous McCullum, who cuts Anderson over the diving Collingwood at backward point, and then helps him to deep backward square for a leisurely single. At what stage does this become worrying for England? Not quite yet. And there's another boundary, this time courtesy of a not-quite-cleanly-hit pull. At least Anderson is steaming in: his last delivery is measured at 91.1mph. "Not sure switching hands when bowling is allowed within the Laws," says John Starbuck and a few others, "because you have to inform the umpire which way you're bowling e.g. left hand over, so to change that would warrant a no-ball. Mind you, it happened in a famous fictional match - John Winton's 'We joined the Navy' - which I recommend not only as a good guide to 1950s attitudes, but as very funny and eminently quotable, as you'll find Nancy Banks-Smith uses it too." Intriguing.

6th over: New Zealand 38-0 (How 7, McCullum 27) need 308 Sidebottom may be quietly relieved that he's beginning this over against the placid How. Two dot balls precede a quick two through square-leg and then a single into the gap at midwicket. McCullum pulls uppishly to deep backward square for a single and it says something for the start New Zealand have made that four off the over feels like a good one for England.

5th over: New Zealand 34-0 (How 4, McCullum 26) need 308 McCullum stands-and-delivers Anderson over mid-off for four, then misses with a wild swipe at a bouncing delivery outside off. It's risky, but it sure is entertaining. A couple more follow through square-leg and How is little more than a bystander for the time being. Don't forget, though, that the last time England passed 300 in an ODI against New Zealand, How made 139 and was run out in the last over of a thrilling tie. But this is a one-man show: four more to McCullum who leans back to crash Anderson over backward point.

4th over: New Zealand 24-0 (How 4, McCullum 16) need 308 A single to each batsman sandwich a Sidebottom wide, but a slower ball keeps McCullum guessing. He then miscues an attempted pull which flies towards Anderson at third man. Weirdly, Anderson barely moves and the ball bounces a coupe of yards in front of him, much to Sidebottom's disgust. How completes the over with two to wide third man. "What would be really unfair, but so impressive as to be worth it, would be for a bowler to do a KP and deliver from the wrong hand," says Robin Hazlehurst. "Some bowl off the wrong foot so it would only take a small readjustment in the arms, but my head hurts trying to visualise it. Imagine facing that though." I'm trying!

3rd over: New Zealand 18-0 (How 1, McCullum 14) need 308 How takes a leg-bye before McCullum square-cuts Anderson for a one-bounce four. England just have to keep their nerve here. As for New Zealand, at least they haven't revisited the fiasco of Thursday, when McCullum couldn't get any of the strike and by the end of the fielding restrictions was yet to score a run. It's a different game bowling to How, who plays out three dot balls to end a respectable over.

2nd over: New Zealand 12-0 (How 1, McCullum 9) need 308 Here's Ryan Sidebottom, the man whose heart may have missed a beat when he was "rested" from the Twenty20 game in Manchester on Thursday. McCullum moves across his stumps and tries to flick his first ball over deep backward square... and misses. The next ball brings two leg-side leg-byes, and then McCullum mows a couple wide of mid-on. And then... six over cow corner off the last ball of the over. The mayhem may just have started. "While I was out grabbing a sandwich, I heard Nasser say that was KP's first ODI ton on home soil," says Craig Woodhouse. "Can it really be so? And would it therefore be churlish of me to suggest he hasn't delivered on his potential while batting in the UK?" It sure is true: three on that tour of South Africa in early 2005, and two in last year's World Cup.

1st over: New Zealand 2-0 (How 1, McCullum 1) need 308 So, here we go. New Zealand are going to have to bat out of their skin to win this, which isn't impossible - just unlikely. Jamie How steers Jimmy Anderson's first ball to third man for a single, and Nasser points out that Brendon McCullum has never made a one-day hundred before. Thanks for tempting fate, Nas. He's off the mark third ball with a nudge off his hip for a single. Two off the over represents a good start for England. "I've just been dancing round my bedroom trying to do a left-handed off-drive from a right-handed batting position," says Max Banjo. "I love the idea that it's not fair that someone can do that... (play the shot that is, not dance round their bedroom looking like a tw@)."

Here come the players. And here's an email. "I don't want to be the harbinger of doom," says Craig Woodhouse, "but whenever England post a score like that I'm reminded of when we did likewise against India, only for them to knock it off without much difficulty. And it always makes me feel a bit sick. Surely that can't happen again. Can it?"

Mid-innings break: Well, that was all pretty breathless. One superb innings, a magnificent cameo and two very good knocks from previously out-of-form players. England could not have asked for much more. Join me in the not-too-distant future to see if New Zealand can tear up the script.

50th over: England 307-5 (Pietersen 110, Ambrose 1) The quickest one-day half-century is 24 deliveries, so Shah has the chance to make history here. Four, four, four would to the job very nicely, but Shah can take just a single off Southee's first ball, a decent delivery of full length. Pietersen immediately returns the strike, so a four and a six would do it. Southee gives him the bouncer, but it's a leg-side wide and the next delivery is a no-ball. There's no free hit, though, because it was a shoulder-height no-ball, not a front-foot one, if you follow. So the record is still on: Shah has 41 from 21 and needs nine in two. And there's six of them down the ground! Forty-seven off 22: he needs three off one to break the record. Or is it to equal it? I'm confused now. Anyway, he can manage just two as Flynn almost misfields on the fence. And then, to the penultimate ball of the innings, Shah is caught on the flick-pull by How at deep square-leg: WICKET! Shah c How b Southee 49 (304-5). That was great stuff though: 49 off 25 balls, at which point Pietersen hammers what should have been the last ball of the innings to long-off for a single. But, would you believe it, it's a no-ball! So Tim Ambrose's one delivery will be a free-hit. He cuts for a single, and Pietersen finishes with an undefeated 110 from 112 balls. Great stuff from England. Now what can McCullum and Taylor do?

49th over: England 292-4 (Pietersen 108, Shah 40) A single for both batsmen is followed by a lofted four down the ground from Shah to bring up the 50 stand in no time at all: 29 balls, to be precise. And there's four more as Shah laps Mills over his left shoulder and the head of short fine leg: cheeky! This is falling apart for New Zealand, because off the scheduled last ball of the over, Mills oversteps and watches the ball sail over Hopkins head for five no-balls. Which means a free-hit. Shah launches it to deep backward square and will have the strike. He also has 40 off 20, Outstanding. "I hope Mr Pietersen will be apologising to us all after the game for having made us sit through his laborious inning of much more than the permitted 20 overs," says Mark Steward. "My wife has been driven to distraction." A fair point.

48th over: England 276-4 (Pietersen 107, Shah 30) Southee returns and who would be a bowler now? The insanely talented Pietersen at one end, and the pretty handy Shah at t'other. And there's six more as Shah hangs back in his crease and helps a full-length delivery back over Southee's head. Amazing shot - and what a cameo. And there's four more to Pietersen, this time over extra-cover. They're doing as they please now, and to make matters worse for New Zealand, Southee - who has already bowled a wide in this over - oversteps. Gulp: a free hit to Shah. He can manage just a single to long-on, but that's 16 off the over. Three-hundred is possible!

47th over: England 260-4 (Pietersen 101, Shah 22) There's his hundred, his sixth in ODIs, thanks to a pull for a single off Mills. It's taken him 104 balls, which means the second fifty came up from 42 deliveries, two of which were hit left-handed for six. And it takes his ODI batting average back over 50. What an innings! Shah is doing his bit too, mind: two through midwicket followed by a leg-glance for four as Mills loses his line. And then... six! And without so much as a switch of hands! That one disappeared over cow corner and Shah holds the pose in time-honoured fashion. Two singles make it 15 off the over. Here's John Starbuck. "Lynn's observation gets dangerously near that line in The Rutles, where, asked to explain the band's attractions, people keep saying 'I think it was the trousers. You could see everything outlined very clearly'." Just what I thought.

46th over: England 245-4 (Pietersen 99, Shah 9) Pietersen drives Mason's first ball down the ground for a single to move to 98 as Nasser drools over KP's "talent". Shah isn't bad either: there's four over extra-cover, followed by two through midwicket as he shuffles across his stumps. A quick single to backward point leaves Pietersen one ball in the over. Can he do it this time? No, but he will begin the next on 99. "The debate about fairness at Pietersen being right-handed one minute and left-handed the next, is in danger of showing prejudice against the ambidextrous," says Ian Copestake.

45th over: England 236-4 (Pietersen 97, Shah 2) Shah's job here is to give the strike to Pietersen on a silver platter with a sprig of parsley. He does it well with a wristy off-side flourish off Styris, but Pietersen manages only a scampered single to short fine leg off the next two balls. New Zealand will be pleased with that little exchange. Shah chops a single to third man and Pietersen has one ball left in the over to reach his hundred with a boundary. Instead he keeps the strike with a quick leg-side single.

44th over: England 231-4 (Pietersen 94, Shah 0) Two-eighty is still possible as Owais Shah defends his first ball into the off-side. Vettori finishes with figures of 10-0-38-1.

WICKET! Collingwood b Vettori 64 (231-4) The ball after launching Vettori just over long-on for six, a shot helped on its way by Mason on the boundary, he leans back and chops on. But that was a huge knock - both on a personal and a team level: a stand of 136 and renewed self-confidence. "I have barely noticed a single nurdle off Colly's pads today, what a great innings from a captain under not a small amount of pressure!" says Lynn Bashforth. "And (because I know you have come to expect this type of observation from me) I can't help noticing that the exciting new techno clothing from Adidas comes in a much closer fit than previously. Excellent stuff. And KP hasn't hitched up that left sleeve once."

43rd over: England 221-3 (Pietersen 91, Collingwood 57) Styris continues and Pietersen paddles his first ball to short fine leg for a single. Collingwood has to return the strike as soon as possible, but he misses an attempted heave next ball and has to make do with a gentle cut to wide third man the delivery after. Pietersen opens the face to pick up to the same region, then misses a sweep. Hopkins goes up for a stumping shout, but his back foot didn't leave the ground: an easy not-out decision. And then KP unleashes another left-handed heave, this time over long-off - or long-on if you consider him to be a left-hander. That was even more amazing than the left-handed sweep - more of a drive. Ludicrous!

42nd over: England 211-3 (Pietersen 82, Collingwood 56) Vettori has two overs left and he's using one of them now. New Zealand's chances may depend on getting rid of Pietersen in the next couple of overs. Instead, he takes a single, leaving Collingwood to defend the final five balls. Hmm. I guess they want to see Vettori off, but that was taking caution to an extreme. "I'm not being funny," says Jez with uncanny accuracy, "but Styris is not a Sontaran, he's an owl. end of story. He's not on the field currently as he's flown off for a bit. He's very talon-ted. Sorry." You should be.

41st over: England 210-3 (Pietersen 81, Collingwood 56) Collingwood has done a Bell: there's his fifty, courtesy of a chip for two off Styris followed by an airy off-side drive for four. And it's taken him just 52 balls. Well played! He is then allowed to turn a single into a three by Mason's wholehearted dive at backward square that tips the ball out of the flight-path of Flynn, and England are on fire. Twelve off the over.

40th over: England 198-3 (Pietersen 79, Collingwood 46) Holding is making the point that some members of the ICC's cricket committee regard what Pietersen did in that last over as "unfair", because he is in effect turning himself into a left-handed batsman without telling anyone. You can't deny the box-office value of the stroke though, and now Collingwood joins in the fun, swatting Mason over cow corner for six. England have suddenly upped the tempo and New Zealand look powerless to stop them. Pietersen, desperate for the strike now, calls Collingwood through for the quickest of singles and then crashes Mason down the ground for four to bring up the 100 stand off 99 balls. This is now Pietersen's highest one-day score since he finished the World Cup with a round 100 against West Indies, way back in April 2007. "I never thought to write about Styris' face before because I thought it was cheap," says Alfred Moore, "but seeing as everybody's talking about it... I think he looks like Michael Douglas's ugly brother. Was Michael Douglas in New Zealand any time in the 70s?" This really has to stop.

39th over: England 187-3 (Pietersen 75, Collingwood 39) Styris returns after four unusually expensive overs earlier were off-set by the wicket of Bopara, a return catch he took with his eyes closed. Pietersen advances on his first ball and pulls a single, and then - remarkable stuff! First Collingwood reverse-sweeps for a lucky single htat drops just short of Jamie How at short third man, before Pietersen reverse-slaps for six, the same shot he played off Muttiah Muralitharan at Edgbaston two years ago. It's actually a left-handed sweep, because he switches hands, and Michael Holding wonders whether that's fair. Whatever it is, it was amazing, and Styris stands there in resigned acceptance of the brilliance. "You'll pleased to hear that I've done Dave Bell (27th over) a favour," says Ian Taylor. "I've sent the Polish young lady in question a text message explaining that despite being with Mr Bell for over 18 months she has yet to progress to 'girlfriend' status from just 'seeing each other'. I imagine the ensuing conversation should sufficiently liven up Dave's boring middle overs."

38th over: England 177-3 (Pietersen 67, Collingwood 37) Six an over from now would bring England 241, but they really should be aiming higher than that as Collingwood drops Mason at his feet and is called through for a quick single by Pietersen. Both sides will need the luck to go their way, but KP's Chinese cut for four means first blow for England. There's nothing fortunate about his boundary two balls later, a ferocious pull that leaves Mason fuming. Pietersen is trying to get after the bowling now and keeps the strike with a single to deepish mid-off to make it 10 off the over.

37th over: England 167-3 (Pietersen 58, Collingwood 36) Taylor continues and he's actually bowling quite well, possibly because these two are so afraid of getting out to him. A leg-side wide looks pretty gruesome, but England are reduced to pushes down the ground for one, at least until Pietersen hoicks him to wide long-on for two off the last ball. "Styris is surely a perfect Sontaran," says John Starbuck. "You might have to add that, for those not reading in the UK, they are race of so-so baddies in Dr Who." And possibly for one or two reading in the UK as well.

36th over: England 161-3 (Pietersen 55, Collingwood 34) With 15 overs to go, England should be aiming for a minimum of 250. Presumably Collingwood worked out a par score at the toss and the team is playing accordingly, although his ugly leg-side mow for a single off Mills suggests a touch of concern perhaps. Pietersen pulls a slower ball for a single, before Collingwood collects a couple with a perfunctory hoick to fine leg. A single to third man completes the over and here come the drinks.

35th over: England 156-3 (Pietersen 54, Collingwood 30) So, the ball is changed, as it has to be after 35 overs, and - what's this! - Vettori has tossed the new one to Ross Taylor, whose previous 38 ODIs have allowed him all of three overs. His first ball is a shocker: five wides down the leg-side that brings huge cheers from the Chester-le-Street crowd. Is Vettori trying to buy Pietersen's wicket? If so, it doesn't work, but Taylor recovers well after his initial aberration, conceding just three more singles, the last of which ensures Collingwood has the strike. "Is it me or does Scott Styris look a bit like an owl?" says Jez. "Think he may have been put off by a field mouse when KP skied that sweep shot." It's a theory.

34th over: England 148-3 (Pietersen 53, Collingwood 28) Mills returns and Nick Knight fuming about England's running between the wickets as Pietersen touches down with the wrong hand because his gloves are in the other. I'm not sure there were two runs there, but Knight has a point: there has been a lack of urgency about some of the running today. And as I write that, Pietersen forces Collingwood to get his skates on by coming back for a tight second after timing Mills to deep midwicket. Better. "I prefer to read the whole day's OBO in its entirety first thing in the morning to start my 'work' day," says Grant in New Zealand, calling himself a long-time reader but first-time contributor. "Is there anyone else who does this or does everyone prefer the slow torture of over by over updates?" Slow torture? Consider yourself a last-time contributor too...

33rd over: England 145-3 (Pietersen 51, Collingwood 27) Pietersen moves to a 62-ball half-century with a top-edged sweep for two off Vettori. It's been an industrious effort with only one or two flashes of KP brilliance, and it's been a crucial one in the circumstances. Pietersen then gets away with another top-edged sweep which Styris should have done better with: he ran sideways rather than towards the ball. Hmm.

32nd over: England 141-3 (Pietersen 48, Collingwood 26) Southee continues and Pietersen pulls him for one, a shot that would have brought him four in Test cricket. In the 50-over stuff, the sweeper is king. Four off the over - the kind of dull one which Twenty20 promises to abolish.

31st over: England 137-3 (Pietersen 46, Collingwood 24) A Pietersen hundred would help, but then when wouldn't it? Adelaide, I hear you say? Get over it! I have. Honest. [Takes pills]. Two singles off Vettori's over.

30th over: England 135-3 (Pietersen 45, Collingwood 23) Back comes Southee in place of Styris (4-0-26-1) and Collingwood hints at new-found assurance with a shimmy down the track and a one-bounce four over the bowler's head. If anyone knows this pitch, it's Shotley Bridge's Paul Collingwood, who manoeuvres the next ball to third man for a single. These two are ticking along at a run a ball, which is the stuff of doctor's orders. Pietersen will have the strike after a push to long-on, and on the basis that you should double the 30-over score to work out the 50-over total, England are on course for something decent.

29th over: England 129-3 (Pietersen 44, Collingwood 18) Lovely shot from Pietersen, who advances on Vettori and hits him straight back over his head for six. He follows that with another clubbed sweep for a single, and Collingwood immediately returns the strike with an off-side chop for one more. For once, Pietersen then misses two attempted sweeps, the first of which brought a respectable lbw shout from Vettori, Llong was having none of it. "I've been trying to find inspiration for a decent riff," says Craig Woodhouse, "but my enthusiasm is remarkably damp today. Perhaps it has to do with the thrashing my side took yesterday - having restricted the oppo to a respectable 247, we were all out for 46. Ouch. Perhaps the same will happen to NZ today?"

28th over: England 121-3 (Pietersen 37, Collingwood 17) Collingwood pre-meditates Styris to fine-leg for two with a top-edged sweep, then fetches one from outside off-stump to backward square for a single. No sign at the moment of the lack of confidence that has blighted his season to date as Pietersen scurries through for a swept single. "Blah blah blah, Bell has no mental strength at the toughest level of Test cricket?" rages Ian Truman. "O'Reilly, I'm guessing you just watched the 2005 Ashes and made your mind up? He performed pretty respectably against the best team in the world in 2007. Oh and for that matter Ramps' record against the Aussies was pretty decent too. Maybe you'd care to suggest another batsman in county cricket who'll have seven Test hundreds at 42 at the age of 26?" Steady!

27th over: England 116-3 (Pietersen 35, Collingwood 14) Vettori brings in a slip as he bowls to Collingwood, who uses his feet to no avail. He finally scampers an off-side single off the fifth ball of the over before Pietersen keeps the strike with a meaty sweep. He's played that shot well today. "I have a Sunday-afternoon quandary," reveals Dave Bell. "I am seeing a Polish girl who won't even discuss the idea of watching cricket, let alone tune in on the TV or entertain the idea of watching a bit of Twenty20 hit-and-giggle. I need ideas to liven up these mildly dull middle-of-the-innings overs!" You couldn't make it up!

26th over: England 114-3 (Pietersen 34, Collingwood 13) Well, well. Collingwood lifts Styris's first ball - an off-break - over mid-on and away for four, then nudges the next one to very fine third man for four more. Just what England need, this. He then makes it nine off three with a leg-side nudge and the England captain is, whisper it, up and running. On cue, the sun comes out, and Pietersen celebrates with a cracking cover-drive for four. Poor over: 13 off it. "Sorry, I know this sounds off, but since he doubtlessly earns more than me I think it's OK," says Mark Steward. "A friend of mine and I rate Styris as the ugliest antipodean cricketer since technicolour broadcasts began. Can anyone suggest a more deserving winner of this most coveted of prizes?" Glenn Turner was no oil painting.

25th over: England 101-3 (Pietersen 30, Collingwood 4) When you consider that the first over cost 12, New Zealand have done pretty well here. They're taking the pace off the ball on a sluggish pitch and inviting England to go after them, which was the undoing of Bopara. Pietersen brings up the 100 with a leg-side tuck off Vettori, who then finds slow turn to defeat Collingwood. The response is a scurried single to long-on.

24th over: England 99-3 (Pietersen 29, Collingwood 3) So, can Collingwood do a Bell and rediscover his touch in the limited-overs format? He begins with a trademark leg-side nudge first ball, and the onus is even more squarely on Pietersen's shoulders. He pushes one to long-on, before Collingwood completes the over with a nudge to third man for two.

WICKET! Bopara c and b Styris 4 (95-3) Poor shot from Bopara, who drives a full-length delivery straight back to Styris, who completes a sharp catch. England are in a spot of bother now.

23rd over: England 95-2 (Pietersen 28, Bopara 4) Vettori drops short, which allows Bopara to rock back and chop a single to deep extra-cover. Pietersen sweeps with a hint of top-edge for one more, and then Vettori almost does Bopara with a quicker ball that skids on. He really is a master of variation. Three off the over as Bopara punches a single to deep extra to keep the strike. "Apparently at the Le Mans 24-hour race you have specialists for different stages of the race," says Dominic O'Reilly. "Who would you have for batting? I'd suggest Ian Bell up to 50 followed by Michael Vaughan (given his conversion rate) and, when he gets into the nervous 190s, we'd switch to Marvan Atapattu, a terrible starter but king of the double tons." You can't try to butter Bell up now after your last email. Damage done!

22nd over: England 92-2 (Pietersen 27, Bopara 2) So, England have to consolidate again, just when Bell and KP would have been hoping to crack on post-powerplay. Still, I suppose he was caught on nought off a no-ball, so the karmic wheel turned full circle. Bopara tucks Mason off his hip for a single before Pietersen works him off his pads for two. KP holds the key now to a score of 250-plus, but he's then beaten by one from Mason that holds its line. "Is Ian Bell the secret love child of Geoff Miller?" wonders Dominic O'Reilly and no others. "How else does he keep getting picked? Sorry, dull riff I know, but like Ramps, he's not mentally tough enough for the toughest Test cricket, however pretty his shots are."

21st over: England 89-2 (Pietersen 25, Bopara 1) The last time I saw Bopara bat in a 50-over game, he made 201 not out off 138 balls for Essex against Leicestershire. If pushed, I'd probably settle for something similar today. Replays show Bell did indeed hesitate, but he also had to run round Mason, who was perfectly entitled to stand his ground as he appealed for lbw. Margins, eh? Meanwhile, Bopara gets going with a push into the covers off Vettori, before Pietersen unleashes a superbly powerful square sweep for four. Shot!

WICKET! Bell run out (Taylor) 46 (84-2) That is a real shame for Bell, who was looking so in control. Mason went up for lbw, Bell hesitated, set off anyway and was beaten by Taylor's direct hit from short midwicket. Did the appeal distract him? Possibly. Whatever, that's a sickener for Bell off the last ball of the powerplay overs. "Why is it that ever other Test-playing nation seems to have batsmen who can score at over a run a ball in ODIs on a regular basis, whereas England (a) have very few of them, (b) the few that they have cannot do it with any degree of regularity and (c) keep leaving one of the best of them, Massiveanus, out in favour of nurdlers like Shah?" asks Richard O'Hagan rhetorically.

19th over: England 79-1 (Bell 42, Pietersen 20) Vettori must be changing ends, because here comes Scott Styris for the first over after the drinks break. Bell is done in the flight - Styris is so medium-slow he's practically a spinner - and an attempted drive over mid-off ends up going towards midwicket for an ugly single. Pietersen and Bell then exchange leg-side singles before Pietersen misses a sweep - but he's hit well outside the line of off-stump. A quick single ensues to short third man, but it's only four off the over again.

18th over: England 75-1 (Bell 40, Pietersen 18) England have to be careful not to stagnate against Vettori: I can sense a 10-0-26-1 day coming on. In the meantime, Pietersen drives Mason to long-on for a single, before Bell collects one via the Chinese cut to short fine leg. Lucky shot, good running. Pietersen then works a slower yorker to deep midwicket for one more, and Bell returns the compliment with a tuck to deep square-leg. Pietersen misses an attempted whip from outside off-stump and it's four singles off the over.

17th over: England 71-1 (Bell 38, Pietersen 16) Vettori brings himself on and we're currently in the third and final powerplay, in case you were wondering, which I'm sure you weren't. His second ball is short and Pietersen stands up tall to take a single to deep cover. Bell is watchful, which is just as well: Vettori is on the money as ever. One off the over.

16th over: England 70-1 (Bell 38, Pietersen 15) Apologies if I was confusing Southee and Mason there: they all look the same in that kit. Anyway, this over is definitely being bowled by Mason and he duly serves up an awful leg-side full-toss which Pietersen helps for four. Bell is gifted a single as Mason fields off his own bowling, throws down the stumps with Bell in his ground and watches with irritation as the ball disappears towards third man. A better over, that, for England: eight off it.

15th over: England 62-1 (Bell 36, Pietersen 9) Bell needs to set himself to bat through the innings: if he does that, England could make 300. But New Zealand are keeping a lid on things right now and Bell has to make do with a nurdle to third man for a single off the fourth ball of Southee's over. It may be that this pitch is on the slow side, which could explain some of Wright's batting, and that's the end of the second powerplay as Pietersen advances on Southee and misses with an attempted flamingo. "For sheer exuberance and the potential to go off on one at any moment Paul Nixon has to very high on the list," says Chris McBride in response to John Starbuck's 12th-over teaser.

14th over: England 61-1 (Bell 35, Pietersen 9) Mason is looking for the lbw against Pietersen but KP is alive to the danger. Pietersen breaks the shackles with a not-especially-fluent drive through extra-cover for two, but that's it for the over. "Of course, as a fellow pedant, I have no excuse," says Matt Grime. "I should have said that Blowers thinks Martin is in the NZ XI for this ODI, when he isn't even in the squad and is instead playing for Warwickshire at the moment. Many apologies to the other readers for possibly confusing them." Accepted on their behalf.

13th over: England 59-1 (Bell 35, Pietersen 7) Glorious stuff from Pietersen, who eases Southee - returning in place of Mills (6-1-20-0: a good comeback after his first over cost 12) - down the ground for four. The batsmen then exchange singles, before Pietersen keeps the strike (he's very good at that) and England would have taken this start after being put in by Vettori. "I wonder if we haven't all been a bit quick to ring the death knell for 50-over cricket?" says Mark Steward in Kyoto. "Sometimes it takes a reckless kebab to inspire you to roast a shoulder of lamb. Or season some chops, anyway. Mmmm, Sunday." Stop drooling man. I'm trying to work/dispense wisdom.

12th over: England 52-1 (Bell 34, Pietersen 1) If these two can carry on as they started at Old Trafford on Thursday, we could be in for quite a treat. Pietersen adds two leg-byes to the total, then drives Mason uppishly through midwicket for a single to get off the mark. Clouds are gathering over Chester-le-Street as Mason beats Bell's push with one that leaves him. "Hello from me," says John Starbuck. "TMS has Chris Cairns as a co-commentator and no wonder, as by re-joining Notts for Twenty20 and doing well at it, he's revived his media earnings potential too. So who, out of all those emerging as short-form experts, would you like to hear most?"

WICKET! Wright c Vettori b Mason 11 (49-1) And that, I'm afraid, is the end of a pretty awful innings from Wright. He tried to hit Mason on the up, but succeeded only in lobbing a simple catch to Vettori at mid-off: 11 off 33 balls is not Antigua form at all. "Do you know that, at £48, tickets for the Twenty20 on Friday cost £3 more than for a Test day in the same Old Trafford stand two weeks ago?" fumes Lynn Bashforth/Outraged of Twickenham. "I had already started saving for next year's Twenty20 World Cup but clearly I'd better raise my game. I'm seeing £60+ for a London match at this rate."

11th over: England 49-0 (Bell 34, Wright 11) Wright holds the bat very low down the handle. My mum used to tell me not to hold my knife and fork low down because it was bad manners (was it just my mum?), but I guess Wright has runs on his mind rather than etiquette. Anyway, he collects a single with chop to third man off Mills, who has settled into a decent groove here: just two singles off the over. "You're not alone Lawrence," says Matt Grime. "You've been providing a valuable service for those of us with TMS alone. For some reason they still employ the buffoon/national treasure that is Blowers. You've been the only way of knowing who's batting, bowling or what the score is. So far he got the bowler wrong on the second delivery of the match, and seemed convinced that Chris Martin was still playing for NZ." You mean he's not? Honk!

10th over: England 47-0 (Bell 33, Wright 10) Mike Mason replaces Southee (4-1-19-0) and England are in danger of losing momentum because of Wright's struggles. That places the onus back on Bell, who cutely deflects a slightly wider delivery to fine third man for four. A lesson for Wright, perhaps: the scalpel can be more effective than the hammer. A quick single follows to mid-off, before Wright finally gets hold of one, cracking a half-volley down the ground for four. "Not all of us are in the sunshine," says Chris McBride. "Some of us are in the office but thanks to the Guardian and a TV at an angle that means straining my neck to see the screen my morning is not completely ruined. I think Luke Wright is nursing a hangover also. Can he score some runs or just hurry up and get out. Why no Strauss?" I guess because he was a late replacement for Alastair Cook, so there would be a certain amount of leapfrogging to accommodate him.

9th over: England 38-0 (Bell 28, Wright 6) Wright has come in for stick in the past for throwing the bat too early, so I guess we can't be too critical of what's happening here, but I wonder whether he's the answer at the top of the order. He might be better against the older ball lower down the order, but, hey, let's give him a chance. That, though, was a maiden from Mills and he has now faced 28 balls for his six. "A small but hardy band of four of us are at work," says Luke Remsbery, "but at least three of them are now wishing they were not, due in part to the fact that I am exposing them to a liberal dose of TMS, which I'm sure is not what they expected when I declared that I was "putting the radio on", not to mention random cheering whenever Luke Wright edges another run/avoids dismissal/no one realises he's probably not the answer for a minute or two..."

8th over: England 38-0 (Bell 28, Wright 6) Bell tucks Southee behind square-leg and comes back for a comfortable second, then runs him to third man for another single. It's a good job he's keeping the scoreboard ticking over: Wright is struggling with his timing just at the moment. Which is the cue for a well-timed cut shot for two - it would have been four but for a quite magnificent piece of fielding by McCullum. The highlights will be worth watching for that alone. Wright then keeps the strike with an edgy drive to wide mid-on. "Morning Lawrence," says Lynn Bashforth. "I've been here but searching for inspiration before attempting to apply fingers to keyboard. Pleased to see Bell starting so confidently, and I think I can just see Luke Wright beginning to get his eye in. Not sure that they would have liked the sight of KP warming up on the balcony a few minutes ago though."

7th over: England 32-0 (Bell 25, Wright 3) This all feels a bit like a Test match, and I'm not saying that as a criticism. Hell, there's time to build an innings, as Bell nudges Mills to third man for a single, and there's a distinct lack of music on the loudspeakers. It'll never catch on, this 50-over stuff.

6th over: England 31-0 (Bell 24, Wright 3) Wright plays back to Southee and collects a single to third man, although I'm not convinced that was what he intended. Bell collects a third-man single with a far more deliberate stroke - almost a back-cut - and England, thanks to Mills's first-up no-ball, have made a more-than-solid start. Wright cuts for one to wide third man, where McCullum is fielding, and then Bell keeps the strike with a turn of the wrists to deepish square-leg.

5th over: England 27-0 (Bell 22, Wright 1) I'm guessing you lot are either nursing hangovers or are out lapping up the Sunday sunshine: if I was a more sensitive kinda guy, I'd take the lack of emails personally. Anyway, Mills goes up for leg-before against Wright, but Nigel Llong isn't interested - that was a touch high and slipping down leg - and the batsmen poach a leg-bye. Wright hasn't settled down yet, in stark contrast to Bell, who is bristling with intent and clips the last ball of the over for four past short fine leg. Classy.

4th over: England 22-0 (Bell 18, Wright 1) Southee begins with a no-ball which Bell tucks to leg for one, and that means Cool Hand Luke will get a crack at the free hit. He can make nothing of it, though, as Southee's bouncer evades his swipe. Clever bowling. Wright finally gets off the mark thanks to a minor misfield at mid-on by Vettori which gifts England a single, and then - fanastic shot, this! - Bell picks Southee up over square-leg for six. That, dare I say it, was the stroke of a confident player.

3rd over: England 13-0 (Bell 11, Wright 0) This is another chance for Bell to impose himself after the disappointments of the Test series. he played beautifully on Thursday - few batsmen bother with aesthetics in Twenty20, but Bell can't help himself - and now he has five games to prove that he should be England's one-day opener in the years ahead. Mills is more accurate this time, though, and Bell is limited to a quick single to wide mid-on off the fifth ball. One off the over.

2nd over: England 12-0 (Bell 10, Wright 0) So, Tim Southee bowls his first over in ODI cricket and Wright is squared up by a ball that flies towards backward point and is athletically intercepted by Marshall. How will Wright play this? He was skittish on Friday, when he was lucky to get as many as 24, but there's so much more time in these quaint old 50-over games. He might have been lucky there too: that was pad first as the ball swung back in, but umpire Davis wasn't convinced. Kevin Pietersen, by the way, thinks this format is doomed. So there. A maiden to make up for the madness of the previous over and a nagging start to Southee's 50-over career.

1st over: England 12-0 (Bell 10, Wright 0) Kyle Mills begins with a snorter which may have clipped Bell's glove on the way through to Hopkins, but unfortunately for New Zealand it's a no-ball. That means a free hit, which Bell duly deposits for a one-bounce four over mid-off, and there's two more off the next ball courtesy of a neat clip through midwicket. Bell then uses his feet to Mills and flicks him uppishly past Flynn at midwicket for four more - this is a flying start for England, and all - I reckon - because of that no-ball. And now Mills concedes a marginal leg-side wide. Snicko confirms that Bell did indeed touch that opening delivery: the margins of cricket, eh? What could have been a fantastic start for New Zealand has turned into a bit of a shocker.

Right, the coffee has been brewed (I really shouldn't have had that extra beer in Camberwell's Funky Munky bar last night), Bell is taking guard and the players are ready. Apparently there are a couple of showers forecast for later, but for the moment the sun is shining and we're ready to go...

Can New Zealand halt England's momentum? I know they won the first two ODIs against them earlier this year after England had won the two Twenty20s in Christchurch and Auckland, but on that occasion the stuffing had yet to be knocked out of them by the Tests. On Friday they batted and bowled like a side with no self-belief, and I think that stemmed from their X-rated surrender on the third day of the Old Trafford Test, a game that will go down in the annals as one of sport's great chokes. All this, of course, means England should win. But - and it's a big but - New Zealand will chase today, which they prefer. And if McCullum and Taylor come off, you just never know.

"Morning Lawrence," begins Jeremy Theobald promisingly. "Do I take it that your return to these parts is indicative of having to pay for another safari holiday? Or was it your chin that had the fist of an ECB official under it last Friday at the Trent Bridge dinner to which the Spin alluded last week?" Alas, Jeremy, neither: I'm just a workaholic who has never been near fisticuffs with cricket's top brass. One day, though...

In other words, Tim Southee is making his one-day debut, and Hopkins will keep wicket with McCullum playing as a batsman only. Out go Mark Gillespie and Two-Metre Peter Fulton.

Good morning. In years to come, we may look back at series like this and wipe a nostalgic tear from our eye. Ah, 50-over cricket, we will say fondly - oh for those boring middle overs, the powerplays, the concept of keeping wickets in hand and so on and so forth! Well, folks, here's your chance to lap it up before Twenty20 devours it and then spits it out. Yes, it's the first of five ODIs between England and New Zealand, who have won the toss and stuck Paul Collingwood's men in. Luke Wright and Ian Bell will open, as they did in the Twenty20 match on Friday, while Ryan Sidebottom - "rested", apparently, two days ago - is back at the expense of Dimitri Mascarenhas. The full line-up in a moment.